Forbes primed for Eastleigh return
By Wendy Gee - 
EASTLEIGH are ready to renew their love affair with fans’ favourite Andy Forbes.
It comes just over a year after the Spitfires brought down the curtain on Forbes’s six prolific seasons at the Silverlake Stadium which reaped 143 goals in 268 appearances.
The 32-year-old initially signed for BSB South rivals Woking but, having struggled to make an impact at Kingfield, he linked up again with ex-Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell at Sutton United.
He finished as the Us’ second highest league and cup scorer with 15 goals in 34 games as they roared to the Ryman Premier title, but was released last week because Doswell had a “strict budget” to adhere to.
Finances were also a key factor in Forbes’s departure from Eastleigh last summer but, as director of football Dave Malone explained, he will be returning on vastly different terms.
“Forbesy realises he can’t command the money he previously could,” said Malone.
“Andy’s a different man now. He’s got a family and he wants to enjoy his football.
"He comes to us with something to prove. Woking let him go because he didn't impress there and now Sutton have spat him out, although I think that was more to do with finances than anything.
"Has he gone over the top? We'll have to wait and see. But as long as he can stay fit, I think Forbesy’s got another two or three seasons in him at least.
"I've always liked Andy Forbes as a footballer and always will. I think this is an excellent move for him and Eastleigh.
For manager Ian Baird the beauty of Forbes's return is his versatility.
Although he made his non-League name scoring goals galore for Andover, Winchester City and Eastleigh, Forbes started his career at Reading and is an accomplished centre-half.
And that could well be his niche for next season now that skipper Tom Jordan has lost his central defensive side-kick Chris Holland, who is high on Havant & Waterlooville's wanted list.
With the Spitfires embarking on a new Player Development Scheme providing full-time football for young ex-pros, they have just six of last year's senior players left on board - Jordan, Ross Bottomley, Richard Gillespie, Danny Smith, Jamie Slabber and Gareth Barfoot.
Bottomley and Smith can play in several positions and Forbes is another in that mould.
"Forbesy's played up front, at centre half at right-back and on the left-hand side of a midfield four," said Baird.
"I had a long chat with him on Saturday and told him where we are as a club.
"It's not a case of Forbesy coming back as the centre of attention. He's got to try and help the younger players along.
"He knows all about us and I know him. In our situation it's a big plus to sign a player who can fill three or four different positions."
I'm delighted the legend that is Andy Forbes is returning but I don't agree with the headline that he has anything to prove.
ReplyDeleteHe has pretty much averaged a couple every other game throughout his career and has also proven himself to be a more than capable center half.
I see it as we are getting "2 for the price of 1."
Throw in his experience that he can pass onto the younger players we are looking to sign and I think we will look back on this move as a great bit of business!